Loading attachment for road graders



Dec. 9, 1930.

G. GARDNER LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR ROAD GRADERS Filed May 2l, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Wl 'nA/'enfer Dee. 9, 1930. G, GARDNER 1,784,666

LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR ROADGRADERS Filed May 21, 1928 sv sheets-sheet 2 UGC-.9, 1930- 6. GARDNER 1,784,666

LOADING ATTAGHHENT FOR ROAD GRADERS Filed nay 21. 1928 :s sheets-sheet '3 Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES GEORGE (:`\AIRJ31\TER,y OF REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR ROAD GRADEIRSl Aiipneaeon med May a1, 192s," serial No. 279,246.

Wy invention is a loading attachment for road graders, being an limprovement on the invention of my patent application, Serial No. 254,429, filed February 15, 1928.

My patent application above mentioned sets forth a road grader construction having a scraping blade connected to a suitable vehicle framework. rFhis scraper blade may be positioned at anangle transversely to the .lirection of the forward movement of the grader, and scrapes the dirt oif of a road or the like to one side, discharging it into a hopper like construction. VAn elevator has a series of buckets mounted on an endless chain, the buckets dipping into the hoper and elevating the earth scraped sideways by the blade. The elevator is operated by a motor mounted on the vehicle structure. The elevator discharges into a spout which may discharge into'a truck.

An'object of the present invention is the improved mounting of the elevator and blade whereby theblade and elevator may be shifti edmore conveniently to diiferent angles considered transversely of the direction of movement of the grader; and also in which the blade may be tilted at various angles in regard to the horizontal to give grading cutson a road orthe like of varying camber; and in A this connection I mount the scraper blade 1n such relation to the hopper and to the mounting on the elevator so that a sliding movement may take place in the elevator when the blade is shifted at different angles considered transversely of the direction of movement of theV grader. I also provide a construction by which the blade may be tilted up or down at the inner end that is, the end remote from the nlevator without interfering with the action of the elevator. v Another object of my invention is an im'- proved construction for supporting and balancing the elevator on thevehicle, and for {allowing a partial turn of the supporting structure. To effect'thia' mounta suitable supporting frame on a turntable, the turn table being on the vehicle frame and the supporting frame being lpivotally connected to the l turn table. The engine for yoperatin the elevator is carried on the supporting A-rame at arrows,

hopper,

the side opposite the pivot on the support of the elevator and partly balances suchv eleva-v tor. The unbalanced weight-is takencare of by springs connected between the fixed part of the vehicle frame and the supporting frame. f Another object of my invention is an improved manually operated arrangement for controlling the inclination of the elevator and forshifting the supporting iframe relative to the vehicle frame. l

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Fig. 1 may be considered as a front elevational view, partly brolen away, 0f a vehicle frame having my loading attachment connected thereto, showing the grader blade and associated parts, 1

Fig. 2 is Va side elevation taken substantially in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig.v 1, 70

Fig. 3 is a side view looking partlyv rearwardly and showing certain parts in perspecf tive, and taken in the general direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 1, f

Fig. 4.- is an elevationin perspective yof a portionof the grader taken in the general direction of the arrow L tof Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical section onthe line 5-5of Fig. 3 in the direction of the 80 Fig. G is a' horizontal detailed section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 inthe direction of the arrows, Y

Fig. 7 is an alternative construction showing the elevator frame rigidly secured to the Fig. Sis a view diametrically oppositefto that of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig; 1y showing only the details of the turntable. g

In the illustrations the vehicle frame is designated generally by the numeral '11, `this having horizontal beams 12 spaced apart and illustrated as I-beams with struts '13 connect- 9 ingto the rear axle 1,11 on which are mounted the rear wheels 15.v There is asubframe 16' having side bars 17 connected to the rear axle and extending forwardly in the vehicle. This framehas a blade `carrier 18 suspended from.

t-he subframe 16, this being arcuate in shape. The blade carrier 18 has depending arms 19 which pivotally support the blade 20, thisV rection of forward motion ofthe grader.

The blade may also be tilted on a subtsantial horizontalaXis to allow digging or scrap- Y this being limited by the slots.

ing to different depths on opposite sides of the blade. This is for the purpose of scraping the proper camber in making a road bed or the like. These features are well known structures in Scrapers used in graders and are not fully illustrated or described herein ast-hey do not form an immediate part of this invention.

In Fig. 4 I indicate a segmental gear Y17. Thisis part of a standard mechanism for turning` the blade on a vertical pivot and is usually operated bya pinion, lthe pinion 17 being rotated by a shaft. In my construction I utilize mechanism which is now employed on graders for this purpose and as it does not form an 'immediate part of my invention I do not illustrate this in full.

, The shaft 17 is part of the standard grader mechanism and has an operating wheel, orv handle, at the rear portion of the grader, and by turning the shaft 17 the segmental gear 17 may be rotated a suflicient amount to turn the blade von the vertical pivot. It will be noted by reference to Figure 9 that the device is only intended to rotate on the vertical pivot a comparatively small distance, Hence, as rod 51 has'a certain amount of loose play in *the elongated slot 56 and in the arm 53 as well as in the bracket 52, this rod does not prevent the slight degree of turning of the blade. c

I also-use a standard mechanism for securing the turning of the blade on the vertical axis and on the horizontal aXis. These parts, therefore, need not be described in detail.

Mounted on top of the horizontal beams 12 there is a turn table designated generally by the numeral 23. This has a lower fixed plate 24 and Va rotatable upper plate 25, the upper plate having slots 26 therethrough through which extend studs 27, thus giving a limited rotational movement.` The turn table hasV a A carrier frame 32 is formed of cross beams Y 33,- this latter being pivotally mounted on Ace the journal 31. -On one end ofthe carrierv frame there is mounted an engine34 which is preferably of the internal combustion typeA driving a sprocket gear 35. At the opposite end'. of the carrier frame there is a. pivot shaft 36 also having a sprocket gear 37 connecting by the sprocket chain 38 to the sprocket gear The elevator designated generally by the numeral 39 has a pivotal mounting on the shaft 36 through the medium of the side bars 40 being mounted on this shaft. i

The lower end -of the elevator has the side bars 40 connected to a hopper 41, this hopper having a top frame 42 with a pivoted shaft connection 43.

vThe Vhopper and Vblade in the construction of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are connected to the blade in a similar manner to the construction set forth in my patent application above noted; that is, by rigidly securing the structure of the hopper. and the end of the blade or a plate secured to the end of the blade.

The top frame 42 has a substantial bracket 44 connected thereto, shown in detail in Fig. 5, this bracket having a vertical slot 45. In this slot there is engaged a stud 46 which is fXedly secured to the blade carrier 18. The blade 2O is designed to scrape the dirt from the surface of the ground sideways into the hopper 41 from whence it is elevated by the elevator buckets.

In order to give a resilient counterbalance .of the elevator by the engine a spring 47 is connected between the carrier frame 32 at the end having the engine by the eye 48, and at its lower end is attached to a downwardly extending. bracket 49 which is secured to the vehicle frame 11 as indicated vat 50.

The movement of the blade is guided by a rod 51 which is pivotally connected to the blade as indicated by the pivotal bracketl connection 52, this rod passing vthrough an aperture in an arm 53 extending outwardly from the vehicle frame 11. (Note Figs. 3,

4 and 6.) This rod passes through a yoke Y.

separa-te from the shaft 59. This shaft GO" has a crank arm 61 to which there is connected a link 62, this link having a pivotal connection, as indicated at 63, with the car rier frame 32 lon which frame-is mounted the engine 34 andthe pivotal connection 36 to the elevator 39. In the link 62a link whici may connect with the opposite side of a tiltable frame vcon,- nected to the blade similar to the connection of the link 57.V f Y The shafts 59 and 60 together with their crank arms 58 and 61, formpart of a standardscraper l mechanism.y There is a hand lOl) llfl

ractice I utilize as i wheel 59. operating a 'shaft 'through a gear` f train 60, there being `one of the Wheels and .the shaft 60.

blade 20. However, when the-.shaft 59 is operated to tilt the blade they opposite shaft 60 is also ope ated in such a manner as to move the carrier frame in the proper4 direction, .as the-carrier frame is connected `to the elevator 39, being attached to the side bars 20. This. link 62 has a lifting or depressing action on the hopper 4l and hence as the hopper and blade '2O are connected .together the blade may be tilted. Therefore if it is desired to tilt the blade to give .au increased camber to the road, the shaft 59 'l0 will be operated so4 as to pull up on the link 57 and the shaftl 60 operated so as to: pull down on the link 62. Thus as the end of the blade towards the center of the road is elevated, the hopper andthe portion of theblade adjacent the sideof .the road is cle-' pressed. l A reverse operationv of the shafts 59 and 60 causes a reverse tilting of theV blade 20. l Y y As certain of these parts are old mechanisni in gra-ders, I do not illustrate such construction fully.

The manner of drive of the elevatori buckets is, as above mentioned, from the engine and through the .sprocket chain 38 to the shaft 3,6. This,preferably on the side opposite the sprocket 37, has a sprocket andl sprocket chain connection 6d which drives the upper shaft of the endless chain gear,`

this havinga drive sprocketV 66 over which rides the endless chain 67, this passing over the idler sprocket 68 mounted onthe shaft The buckets'GQ-aremounted on the endless chain 67'anddip into theliopperll elevatingthe dirtsciaped` to one side by the scraper blade. This dirtis discharged into a spout 7 (l which has a closable gate 71 controlled by means of a hand-operated control rod 72.

rlhe manner of operating andffunctioning of Amy loading attachment for road graders is substantiallyT as follows It will be understood that the grader is pulled along the road Y Vor other place to be graded by a suitable tractor', and that a scraping blade is positioned at the proper angular position in regard to the forward movement of the grader and also .the proper tilt to give the desired cainber or cut.` The pivotal connection from the vehicle fra-ine to the blade allows, `:above inert tioned, the tilting motion in substantially vertical plane to incline the blade for a lesser or greater cainber, and, atthe saine time, the

p carrier frame 32 may be shifted through. the; mediumof the shaft 60,v crank arni Gland the link This .l action..` causes a`V slight movement of the elevator frame and of the Whole elevator. The slight rising and lowering ,movement of the hopper is accommodated through the slot and stud connectionfl and 46 of the bracket 44C, the bracket `being connected tothe hopper and the stud .connected to the blade carrier 18.

The slot 5G in the yoke 54C' allows aA slight rocking motion of the blade in reference to VVthe rod 51,this rod, as above mentioned, be-

ing slidable thro-ugh an aperture in lthe arm 58 `Whieh'is rigidly secured to the vehicle frame;v rllhis rody has an additional function of preventing the tilting of the blade should it strike a rock or anything of thatnature on ts'loxver edge, dueto the-fact that the slot 56 is comparatively` narrow in thedirection at right angles to the bladey and Ais elong ated in a direction parallel to the bladel 1 'lVhen` it is desired to turn the blade on its vertical axis to vary the angle of cut ory sweep transverse tothe direction of movement, this is done by the ordinary/'pivotingmechanism, the hopper being of sufficient size so that the dirt Willbe discharged into the hopper and drawn in proper alignment to be picked up by the buckets. ln .this action there is sucient .loose movement of the connection of the rod 51 tothe blade, `and ofthis rod` operating through the arm 53 to accommodate such mo- 'if desired, independent thereof, the turn table 23 may be actuated Within the limits of the .slots 26 andstuds 27 rotating `on the kingpin 28: This `shifts the carrier frame 32 slightly in regard to the vehicle frame and also shifts Vthe elevator andv the hopper. vThereis suiii;`

cient loose connection in the bracket Llll and the slot and stud connection 45 and 4:6 to accommodate this motion. v

In theL construction illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 the hopper is designated by the numer; al 75 and the elevatorfby the numeral 76. The side bars 77 of the elevator aresecured to the hopper by a riveted connection 7 8f In' this Vconstruction therefore, when the `elevator is raised 4and lovveredfslightly by the elevating movement ofthe carrier frame, or when the carrierN frame isrotated on the king pin 28, thus carrying the elevator, the hopper is moved to a' slight extent Within the limits .allowed by the connection ofthe hopper to tli' blade carrier. f y y y ,The .hopper 75is illustrated as being sevblade overlap, this action 2ac commodates the cured to the blade V20 by a hinge construction inoveinent of the blade in working on roads.

of differ-ent cambers.

Various changes may be madein the principles of my invention without departing. trom the spirit thereof, as set orth in the y description, drawings and claims.

I claimi 1. A graderhaving vehicle traine with a scraper blade, a carrier frame mounted on the vehicle frame and having an engine at one end, an elevator at the otherend of the trame, andl means to drive the elevator tromV thefengine,` the elevator lifting dirt moved bythe blade.V c v .Y 2. A grader having a vehicle frame, a

sciapei'blade, a carrier frame mounted onV the vehicle trame, said mounting allowing rotation on a vertical axis, an engineatone end or" thecarrier trame, and an elevator at.

the otherV end, the elevator being driven by the engine, the elevator lifting dirt moved by l the blade.

3. In combination with a grader having a vehicle frame and a scraper blade. a carrier horizontally pivotally mounted on the trame, a motor connectedto one end oi' the carrier iframe, and an elevator connected to the other end of the carrieriiranie, the 'elevatorlifting the earth moved by the blade.- p Y Ll. In combination with a grader as claimed i in claim 3, thecarrier frame having a pivotal mounting on thevehicle frame for partial rotation on a vertical axis.

5. A grader comprising in combination a vehicle trame 'having a scraper bla-de, a carrier frame, a pivotal mounting'for-the carrier frame on the vehicle frame to allow rotation on a vertical axis, a pivotal connection of the elevator from the engine, the elevater lifting dirt moved by the blade. 6. A grader as claimed in claim 5, means to incline the blade to obtain camberedl cuts,

Y andiiieans totilt the carrier frame on the to tilt the blade for a canibered cut, andl i toV Vhorizontal axis connected Vtilting the blade.

to operatel when 7. A grader comprising in combination a vehicle-frame. a scraper bla-de, a carrier frame pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot on the vehicle trame, having an engine at one end and an elevator'at the other,`the elevator being driven from the engine, means means to tilt' the carrier Vframe to operate with the means for tilting the blade.

8. lA grader as claimed-in claiin 7, a iestraining device operatively 'connected between the blade and the vehicle frame to allow tilting ot the blade, but connected to prevent inclining. thewblade as by an object engaging the lower edge thereof. A

g 9. A grader comprising in combination a vehicle frame, a scraper blade, a carrier frame pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot on the vehicle trame and having an engine at one end and an elevator at the other, a hopper connected to the elevator, a relatively fixed frame connected with the vehicle iframe, a

Vlooseconnection between the hopper and 4said fixed frame, and means KVto* tilt the carrier frame and hence slightlymove the elevator and the hopper.

10. Agrader as claimed in claim 9, means to tilt the blade to obtain a cambered cut, a

' restraining rod connected to the blade and -to the carrier frame to allow tilting movement thereof, but to prevent inclining of the vblade by a pressure against thelower edge.

V11. A grader as claimed in claim 9, a turn table mounted onthe vehicle frame for limited movement on a vertical pivot, the pivotal mounting of the carrier frame being on said turn table. f y

12. A grader having in combination a vehicle iframe, a scrap-er blade with means to tilt such blade for ditl'erent cambered cuts, an

` elevator positioned to elevate the dirt moved by the scraper, a counterbalancing means connected between the elevator and the frame and having an engine mounted thereon with means to drive the elevator from the engine,

` and means to Vtilt the counterbalancing means in accordance with the tilting motion of the blade.

13. A grader as claimed in claim 12, means to permit turning the blade at various angles to the direction of motion of the grader, and means to permit turning the counterbalancing means and Vthe elevator to correspond therewith. Y

14. A grader having in combination a vehicletrame, a scraper blade mounted thereon, means to turn theblade'a-t different angles to the direction of movement of the grader, an elevator, a counter-balancing means including anv engine, connecting the elevator and the frame, the elevator being driven from the engine, and means to permit turning the counterbalancing means in accordance with l the turning motion of the blade.

15.*A .grader as claimed in clainilei, a restraining vdevice connected between vthe blade and the vehicle trame, said means' allowing turning movement ot' the blade, 'but preventing an inclination .ofthe blade due topressure on the lower edge.

16; In a grader having a vehicle frame, a scraper blade, a hopper, an elevator pivotally connectedV thereto, a carrier frame pivotally mountedon the vehiclefraine and pivotally connected to the elevator, and an engine on the carrier frame with means to drive the elevator. .i l

17. In a grader as claimed in claim 16, the blade being carried by a blade 'carryingstructure, and means forming a loose connection between the hopper and the said structure.

18. In a grader having a vehicle frame, a scraper blade, means to tilt the blade for cambered cuts, a rod pivotally connected to the blade and extending through an aperture in an arm connected to the frame, a yoke connected to the blade having an lelongated slot therein, the rod passing through the said slot andallowing tilting of the blade, but preventing an inclination of the blade due to pressure on the lower edge.

19. In a grader having a vehicle frame, a scraper blade, means to tilt the blade for cambered cuts, a. hopper, al fixed structure carrying the blade, a bracket connected to the hopper, and a stud and slot connection between the bracket and the structure carrying the blade. n

20. In a grader having a vehicle frame, a

hopper, a scraper blade connected to the hopper, an elevator connected to the hopper, a carrier frame pivotally mounted on the vehicle frame and connected to the elevator, an engine on the carrier frame with means to drive the elevator, and means to" operate the blade and carrier frame to change the camber cut of the blade and thereby shiftthe elevator and hopper.

21. In a grader as claimedin claim r20, means interconnecting the `blade and the vehicle frame, and the carrier frame and the vehicle frame to permit turning of the blade and the carrier frame to a limited extent on a vertical axis.

22. In a grader having` a vehicle frame, a hopper, a scraper blade connected thereto, an elevator connected to the hopper, a carrier frame pivotally mounted on the vehicle frame and connected to the elevator, an engine on the carrier frame with means to drive the elevator, means interconnecting the blade and the vehicle frame and the carrier frame and the vehicle frame to permit turning to a limitedextent, of the blade and the carrier frame on a vertical pivot.

23. In a grader having a vehicle frame, a hopper, a scraper blade connected thereto, an elevator connected to the hopper and having buckets on an endless chain, a carrier framepivotally mounted on the vehicleframe and connected to the elevator, an engine on the carrier frame with means to drive the elevator, the vehicle frame being adapted for pulling in a. forward direction, whereby the earth shifted laterally by the blade is forced into buckets in a contrary direction to the movement of the buckets in the hopper.

24. In combination with a grader havinga vehicle frame and a scraper blade, a carrier mounted on a horizontal pivot on the frame, a motor connected to one end of the carrier and an elevator connected to the other end of the carrier, the motor and elevator in part counterbalancing each other, the elevator lifting lthe earth moved by the blade, and a i claimed in claim 24, a second manually operated means with a connection to the blade to incline the blade for a camber cut.`

26. In combination with ay grader having a vehicle frame and a scraper blade, a carrier horizontally pivotally mounted on the frame, a motor on one end of thecarrier frame, an elevator connected to the other' end of the carrier frame, the motor and elevator in part counterbalancing each other, a rock shaft extending longitudinally of the vehicle frame and having an operating means at one end to rock said shaft, and a connection from the shaft to the carrier to tilt the carrier on the rocking of said'shaft.

27. In combination with a grader as claimed in claim 26, there being a second rock shaft and a link connected to the scraper blade to incline the blade to make a camberV cut whereby when thebladev is inclined the carrier is simultaneously tilted and the elevator raised orlowered.

28. v In a grader having a vehicle frame, a

scraper blade, means to tiltthe bladevfor camber cuts, a rod having a pivotall connection to the blade, the pivot being at substantially right angles to the faceof the blade and substantially horizontal, said rod extending substantially vertically, a yoke rigidly connected to the blade and having a slot substantially parallel to the blade, the rod extending through said slot, a structure connected to the vehicleframe and having an aperture through which the upper end of the rod may slide, the mounting and connection of the said rod allowing tilting of the blade to make a camber cut, but preventing inclination of the blade dueto pressure onV its lower edge.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEO. GARDNER. 

